43: No charity too small: The story of Mary Stevens Hospice's cyber attack

When Mary Stevens Hospice fell victim to a cyber-attack in April 2019, they couldn’t believe that online criminals would target their small organisation.   Many charities don’t think they could be the victim of an attack, but in this podcast episode, we’re joined by an organisation who has experienced the damage firsthand. Mary Stevens Hospice are sharing their cyberattack story to help other organisations learn from their mistakes and take cybersecurity seriously. They want other charities to know how easy it is to fall prey to cybercriminals and just how detrimental this can be. But also, they want charities to know that they’re not alone and that there is lots of help and understanding out there.   Now, over a year later, Mary Steven’s Hospice has tightened their cybersecurity measures and is doing everything they can to protect their staff, donors and service users from cybercriminals.   In today’s episode, we’re joined by Gerry Crow, Director of Operations & Support at the hospice, who talks openly and honestly about their experience as victims of a serious cyber-attack. Learn what happened, what they did and what they’re now doing to ensure they’re as protected as they can be. Gerry is also joined by Cub Llewelyn Davies (Charity Sector Lead at the National Cyber Security Centre) who offers his expert opinion on the incident, as well as some advice for charities who may face the same thing.   No charity will ever be 100% secure, as cybercriminals are continuously evolving their methods. But, charities can learn from the mistakes of others and continue growing and thriving together.